Bombs away: The week in maiden winners

Mini Bolt took 51 tries to break his maiden, which he did February 14. Photo by Coady Photography.

Eight times in the last week, a maiden winner in the region returned at least $10 to win. Among those were horses that paid $99.90 (Flashy Baron at Penn National), $61.40 (Sidereal at Parx Racing), and $52.40 (Baby Brez, also at Parx).

The priciest winner at Charles Town was Great Rocket, who paid $23.40 to win a state-bred maiden claiming race. Trained by Victor Espinosa for breeder-owner Bybee Road Farm, Great Rocket did not finish better than fourth in any of her first eight starts. But in a March 6 race, with Fredy Peltroche up, Great Rocket outfinished favored Across America to win by a half-length in 1:22.61 for 6 1/2 furlongs to earn her diploma. Great Rocket is a six-year-old mare by Officer Rocket.

CHARLES TOWN MAIDEN WINNERS

Horse (state bred), trainer, and jockey

Level

$2 win payout

Been Redeemed (MD), trained by H I McMahon and ridden by J D Acosta

MCL 12500 s

$3.20

Gattolottacharm (WV), trained by D L McClure and ridden by R Latchman

MSW s

$4.80

Great Rocket (WV), trained by V M Espinosa and ridden by F Peltroche

MCL 5000 s

$23.40

Miss Problematic (WV), trained by E L Tobin and ridden by W Rocha

MSW s

$3.40

Sterling Caesar (WV), trained by H Gaffney and ridden by A Lopez

MCL 12500 s

$8.00

Texas Flower (PA), trained by B L Kulp and ridden by C Hiraldo

MSW

$3.40

Tizm (TX), trained by O L Figgins, III and ridden by G Whitacre

MCL 12500

$4.00

Whiskey Dreamin (MD), trained by J McGee and ridden by V Rodriguez

MSW

$9.20

Wild With Style (NY), trained by P F Nuesch and ridden by J D Acosta

MCL 5000

$3.20

LAUREL PARK MAIDEN WINNERS

Two runners that spent a while at the maiden level earned their breakthrough wins during the last week at Laurel Park, scoring at the maiden special weight level on March 8.

In the second race, War of the States, a Mike Trombetta trainee who entered the race winless in six career tries and had an odd streak of having finished third in four consecutive races, broke through with a neck victory in 1:25 for seven furlongs. Under Trevor McCarthy, War of the States, a $185,000 Bodemeister filly owned by Larry Johnson and Trombetta’s R. D. M. Racing Stable, slipped through inside to overhaul Rockstar Girl for the win. She’s bee in the money in six of seven starts.

A few races later, V. I. P. Ticket, a Maryland-bred Windsor Castle colt trained by Jerry O’Dwyer, rallied outside to win by a half-length in 1:10.77 for six furlongs. Under Angel Suarez, V. I. P. Ticket was fifth early before shifting outside and surging to victory. Owned by Designated Hitters Racing, LLC, V. I. P. Ticket had entered winless in eight tries and, like War of the States, in possession of a three-race streak of finishing third.

About The Author

Frank Vespe, the founder and publisher of The Racing Biz, has owned, bought, sold, claimed, written, and talked about horses, in varying combinations, for a decade. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on twitter @TheRacingBiz.